The Alternative Press

PATERSON, NJ - City education officials have decided to wait a few months before voting on whether to switch Paterson's school elections from April to November.

Officials said they would see an eye on how things go in other New Jersey districts that already made the change. Those districts will hold their first school elections on November 6.

Proponents of the change say it will bring more voters out to participate in school elections and will say the district about $150,000 per year that it costs to hold separate school elections in April.

But critics say it will heighten partisan politics in school races and result in party bosses fielding slates of candidates.

The school board has until February to whether it wants to make the change in time for elections to be switched next year, according to the Paterson Education Fund (PEF). If the switch is made, the elections would have to remain in November for four years before they can be moved back to April, according to the PEF.